Newslink for Shabbat Mevarchim, Parshat Pekudei HaChodesh (March 28th - March 29th)
03/27/2025 05:09:16 PM
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Announcements & Upcoming Events
Seudah Shlishit is sponsored by Duke McCarthy.
Getting Ready for Pesach with Rabbi Davies: Special Mini-Series as we get ready to celebrate Pesach. Thursday evenings March 27th & April 3rd at 8pm in the SOI Kiddush Room. And Sunday evening, April 6th with guest speaker Rabbi Aaorn Goldscheider in the SOI Kiddush Room.Classes can be accessed via Zoom or in-person. Click here to Join the Zoom. You can see the full schedule of classes here . Please visit our Pesach webpage for all your Pesach related Information.
Special Seudah Shlishit: Shabbat evening, March 28th at 7:10pm at SOI. Helene & David Raush, and Sabrina Spector share heartfelt reflections and experiences from their recent Federation of South Jersey's Civil Rights trip.
Gemara Shiur with Jeff Schwartz:Sunday evening at 7:45pm in the SOI Chapel. Come join for an in depth study of Talmud.
Rabbi Kelemen's Inner Circle:Monday evenings at 8:00pm, March 31st & April 28th review session with Rabbi Davies, and April 21st Video presentation with Rabbi Kelemen. You can attend one, the other, or both. Missed the first sessions? Click here to receive Rabbi Kelemen's first few presentations. Please note that, starting with the January sessions, Rabbi Kelemen presentations will only be available at the Monday evening screening for free or through paid subscription. Monday evening sessions with Rabbi Davies remain free of charge.
Semichas Chaver Program: Wednesday evening, April 2nd from 8:00pm-9:00pm.Topic: Review of Business Law, Contact Rabbi Davies to participate or for more information. New Zman and topic of Brachot begins after Pesach!
Women's Weekly Parsha Discussion: Wednesday evening, April 2nd from 8:30-8:45pm. Join us on Zoom for a brief peer led discussion on the weekly parsha. Click Here to Join the Zoom.
Shabbat HaGadol Drasha 5785: "Getting to Geulah Through the Four Cups" Because Shabbat HaGadol is on Erev Pesach this year, the Drasha will be presented the Shabbat before, April 5th, at 5:45pm in the SOI Kiddush Room.
Coffee with the Rabbi: Whether you have a burning question, seek guidance, or just want to chat, this is the perfect opportunity. Secure a cup of coffee (or tea), and your 30-minute one-on-one slot for a conversation with Rabbi Davies. Click here to reserve your slot.
Join the Shnayim Mikra Initiative! Become part of our expanding group dedicated to daily study of the weekly Parsha. Choose between in-person morning sessions or follow along with recordings on WhatsApp. Click here to join the WhatsApp group. For more information contact Rabbi Davies.
Join us at the SOI Annual Gala Honoring Michael & Marcy Partnow, Avi & Aliza Sadiky, and Debbie & Alan Fineberg! Monday, June 9th at 6:30pm at SOI. Click hereto purchase tickets, become a sponsor, or place an ad.See more details below!
Knollwood Bridge Closure: The pedestrian bridge from Knollwood Drive to the baseball fields has been deemed unsafe and continues to be closed to all foot traffic. After a thorough assessment, an interim solution has been identified, and repairs are set to begin in the coming days. The Township anticipates completion by April 11, at which point the bridge will be safely reopened. The full replacement of the bridge remains planned for later this year. We deeply appreciate Mayor Fleisher and his team for their responsiveness and commitment to finding a solution. Their efforts have made a real impact, and we encourage our community to express their gratitude as well. For those walking between Knollwood and Cooper Landing Road, alternative routes include Chapel Avenue or Church Road. If using Church Road, to remain comfortably within the Eruv, we recommend taking Washington Avenue and staying on the south side of Church Road. Please be aware that walking near Columbia Lake presents additional Eruv considerations. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and cooperation as we navigate this process together!
Shabbat, March 29: Shabbat Mevarchim, Parshat HaChodesh, Pekudei (Adar 29) 8:00am 8AM Minyan 8:30am Sephardic Minyan 9:00am Main Sanctuary Minyan 9:57am Latest Shema 10:00am Youth Groups 10:30am Tot Shabbat 6:40pm Mincha 6:40pm Teen Minyan 7:10pm Special Seudah Shlishit - Reflections on Federation's Civil Rights trip. 8:00pm Maariv 8:02pm Havdalah
Sunday, March 30: Rosh Chodesh Nisan (Nisan 1) 7:00am Shacharit 8:00am Shacharit 7:10pm Mincha/Maariv
Pesach Preparation Information Visit our Pesach Webpagefor Complete Information!
Click here to download the Sale of Chametz form or pick up a copy at the Shul. Rabbi Davies will be available before and after Mincha/Maariv for sale of Chametz. If you are not available at that time, please reach out to the rabbi to schedule another time to meet. (all forms must be given to Rabbi Davies no later than 9:00am on Friday, April 11th)
*Kashering* Come Kasher your food utensils in the Shul kitchen. Gary Kundin has graciously agreed to oversee Hagalas Keilim at the Shul on Tuesday, April 1st from 7:00pm - 8:25pm.
*Pesach Seder Hosts* We are seeking volunteers who are willing to open their homes and host others for the Seder. If you are able to host or if you are in need of a place to celebrate this special tradition, please reach out to Rabbi Davies. Let’s come together as a community to ensure everyone has a welcoming place at the table during this important time.
*Important Pesach Cleaning Information* As we prepare the shul for Pesach, we kindly ask everyone to clean up their personal spaces and remove any items from the coat room. Please make sure to clean your belongings by April 6th to make the cleaning process more efficient for our staff and volunteers, and to ensure your items don't get lost. Anything left behind will be disposed of. Thank you for your cooperation!
QUESTIONS? Feel free to email Rabbi Davies – Rabbi@SOICherryHill.org or text or call 609-301-0131.
I am very excited for the opportunity to share words of Torah with you. Each week, in this spot, I look to share an idea I've found that speaks to me and that I think will resonate with you as well. This week, I share with you an excerpt from an article by Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy entitled "Translating Ideas Into Ideals" bringing the completion of the Mikdash to use as a lens for how we interact with the world.
Following the completion of the Tabernacle and its various components, Moses inspects and approves all the work of the Jewish people: '...and Moses blessed them' that: 'God's Divine Presence should rest in your handiwork.' However God Himself had already instructed the Jewish people to build His Sanctuary particularly so that He would dwell among them. Why therefore does Moses need to bless them with the Divine presence?
In today's polarised world, there are two fundamental extremes in relation to holiness - that which is holy and that which is not. These two worlds are seen as mutually exclusive and as a result dictate two different sets of conduct. The world of Torah study, the synagogue and the Shabbat table are on a different orbit so to speak to the world of academics, business and social enterprise. For example, many people dress modestly for the former 'sanctified' occasions, whereas in the latter 'secular' settings, they do not. These external signs reflect a perceived distinction between the two worlds as almost automatically divided. In Judaism, however, these seemingly disparate worlds are deeply intertwined. And it is our job to reconnect that which has been disconnected.
[...] While God had indeed guaranteed His presence in the midst of the Jewish people if they followed His instructions and built His Tabernacle, Moses nonetheless came to bless them that the sanctity would metaphorically descend the mountain and extend beyond the sanctuary - into the handiwork of their day-to-day lives. [...] Moses' blessing to the Jewish People that the Divine Presence should rest in their handiwork advocates the approach of 'not discrediting the material world of all its value... but to rather elevate everything.' Our role is to deepen our awareness of revealed holiness and to constantly seek to reveal deeper holiness in less obvious places. [...]
Through this lens, Moses' blessing is reinforced and perhaps more relevant today then ever before. It is our responsibility to continually seek the Divine within the mundane, create avenues for the holiness to shine through and elevate the material world around us. Through this blessed approach we will succeed in engaging in spiritually focused ideas in the modern tabernacle equivalents and translating and ingraining them into deeply spiritual ideals in our day-to-day handiwork. [...] Hoping and praying for a Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Davies Rabbi@SOICherryHill.org
We are excited to be partnering with Mizrachi World Movement to provide their publication of HaMizrachi Parasha Weekly.
World Zionist Congress Elections Every five years, the World Zionist Organization (WZO), one of the most influential organizations in the Jewish world, of which 30% is controlled by US Jewry, holds a crucial election. This election, which runs from March 10, through May 4, gives American Jews the opportunity to vote for representatives in the World Zionist Congress. The number of seats a slate receives directly impacts leadership decisions, policies, and the allocation of over $1 billion annually toward Jewish education, aliyah, security, and other vital causes.
I am strongly encouraging our members to vote for Orthodox Israel Coalition (OIC) Mizrachi, slate #5. Coalition partners include RZA-Mizrachi, YU, OU, RCA, Amit, Bnei Akiva, NCYI, Touro University, and Sephardic organizations such as Shvilim and UMJCA. Your vote will ensure that our Religious Zionist voice is heard. An authentic Torah voiceof integration and unity: integration between Judaism and Zionism; Torah learning and army service; between Torah u’Madda; and balancing Israel and Diaspora needs.
All Jewish American residents who are 18 (by June 30, 2025) can vote. There is a voter registration fee of $5.00. Click here to register and vote. Please share this link with your family and friends. If you’d like to volunteer to help us mobilize our community, please let me know.
Rabbi Michael Davies
Join Our Team: Event Manager Wanted! SOI is looking to hire a friendly and organized per diem Event Manager to oversee and assist with various events, such as Bar/Bat Mitzvot, parties, graduations..etc. This position involves being on-site to ensure everything runs smoothly—from coordinating with office staff and renters to making sure the building is set up and ready before and after each event. You’ll also help with any on-site needs, work closely with caterers, and warmly greet guests as they arrive. This is a paid position. If you’re interested, or to learn more, please reach out to Heshy Chaitoff at CoPresident@soicherryhill.org
Volunteers Wanted!
Kiddush: Volunteers wanted to help with Kiddush - preparation, set up, and clean up! Please contact Yaakov Linder to get involved.
SOI Gala: We are looking for volunteers to help with all aspects of the SOI Gala. Please reach out to Ilana Weiss, Avital Zeffren, or Yaeli Sokolic to get involved.
Do you enjoy small fix-it projects or just love helping out? We’re looking for friendly hands to assist with minor repairs, like sealing doors and patching up little gaps. No special skills needed! Just a willingness to pitch in and help make a difference! If you’d like to help, please reach out to Dan Malamud or Oriel Weinberg. We truly appreciate it!
Website Update: We are pleased to share that thanks to a grant from the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern New Jersey, SOI will be redesigning our website. As a ShulCloud-based site, updates take place in real time. This means that users will see updates to the design, navigation, and pages as they take place in all phases of the project, rather than only once the project is completed. It may take a few months for the website to display in its final form. We look forward to our site being easier to navigate for our members and better communicate what we offer to those seeking information about SOI. We appreciate your patience throughout this process!
Thank you to all the volunteers who helped with last week's Kiddush.
Thank you to the volunteers who helped with last week's Seudah Shlishit.
My family and I are deeply grateful for your kindness and support during the painful period following the passing of my beloved son Avraham. Your warm expressions of sympathy, your visits to the Shivah house, your participation in the Chessed Fund and Limud Mishnayos, and your caring phone calls were greatly appreciated. May HaShem comfort all of us. - Rabbi Bernard B. Rothman -
Thank you to Aharon Yeres, Avi Rynderman, Baila Silverman, Blake Dougherty, Noah Botwinick, Shlomo Aronoff, Debbie Fineberg, Sam Tilonsky and JFed Security Officer Bill DiCola for providing security on Shabbos.
IMPORTANT NOTICE The speed bumps will be reinstalled around the shul and school campus in the very near future. Please, drive slowly around our property and over the speed bumps. The safety of our kids and individuals walking here depend on you!
https://www.kosherwine.com/?rfsn=5940204.12e2a2 SOI members and affiliates can click the link to go to the JCommerce websites and purchase their products. You can support SOI through the commission we earn.
House of Kosher Donation Program SOI will automatically earn 2% of your total purchase when you use our code when checking out! SOI's code is 0720
(Think of our shul's address and add a "0" at the start!)
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